'We’re going to be causing havoc': Andre Rozier interview

Brooklyn trainer Andre Rozier talks to Chris Glover about his hopes and ambitions for 2019, while also giving his thoughts on why he believes Danny Jacobs will defeat Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez...

Esteemed trainer Andre Rozier has been a mainstay of Brooklyn boxing for what seems to be an uncountable amount of time.

‘Uncle Dre’ as he is affectionately known in the inner circles of the New York boxing fraternity has been responsible for the development of one of Brooklyn’s favourite sons in Daniel ‘The Miracle Man’ Jacobs, who squares off against the Mexican sensation Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez on 4 May.

Many outsiders naturally link Rozier to Jacobs but the reality is ‘Uncle Dre’ oversees the training of the vast majority of Brooklyn’s elite fighters - including Curtis Stevens, Sadam Ali and Chris Algieri, as well as imported talent such as IBF lightweight champion Richard Commey, world ranked bantamweight Duke Micah, all action middleweight Tureano Johnson and yours truly, to name but a few.

Rozier opened up about his Brooklyn stable and what lies ahead in 2019 away from the Jacobs vs Canelo showdown.

“The gym is a great place to be and is full of talent," he said. "We have a great enclave of talent from our coaches Lenny Wilson, Terrence Simpson and Chris Algieri, who is not just a first-class nutritionist, but a world-class athlete too and our strength and conditioner Scooter Honig who is first class. We have a fantastic team and that shows in results.”

The Brooklyn native continued, “It’s going to be a big year for the gym. We have already had a new world champion in Richard Commey and I’m 100 per cent [confident] we’ll be adding to that with the likes of Sadam Ali now campaigning at welterweight, Chris Algieri building towards another shot at the world super lightweight title and Curtis Stevens who is dropping to 154lbs. These are just two of many fighters who will be making waves this year. We’re going to be causing havoc in the boxing world!”

Brownsville legend Daniel Jacobs is at the forefront of Rozier’s attention currently as the countdown is well and truly on for the mammoth showdown in Las Vegas on 4 May against Canelo Alvarez in a bout many see as determining who the number one middleweight in the world is.

Rozier gave his take on the clash, “It is a fight to see who is the best middleweight in the world and I believe that is Danny Jacobs.

“Danny will bring a style that Canelo has never seen before, we have a plan in our head what the keys to victory are, and I’m fully confident that you will see a victory for Daniel Jacobs on 4 May.

“There has been controversy in the past but we’re working to make sure that Danny cannot be denied a victory in any way. We want to make it a clear victory and I believe Danny has the tools to do this in impressive fashion.”